Using DIY Beauty Treatments In Lockdown? Stay Away From These Natural Ingredients

As we are all stuck at home, ready to play mad scientist with the potential beauty recipe ingredients in our kitchen, it’s likely that many of us will be tempted to try everything we see. Before you do that, a word of caution. Not every “natural” ingredient is safe to use on the skin, so it’s smart to know what to stay away from.

Lemon, lime, or grapefruit juices

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Some ingredients are known for having brightening benefits, and lemon is among them. However, it really doesn’t work as effectively as we imagine, and instead, does more damage than good, by causing inflammation. Lemon, lime, and grapefruit are highly acidic and harsh on the skin, so it’s dangerous to use these citrus fruits in homemade recipes. Those with skin issues like acne, scars, or other skin conditions are more susceptible to skin irritation and redness due to these ingredients.

Plus, because it is so harsh on the skin, it can worsen scars and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, making pigmentation worse instead of getting rid of it!

Essential oils like lavender

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A lot of us buy lavender essential oil to get the aromatic benefits of this calming herb. However, a caveat many are unaware of is that lavender essential oil has a calming aroma, so it is relaxing to smell. That doesn’t mean it’s safe to use on the skin or good for calming irritated skin. In fact, it’s the opposite of safe. Due to the strong fragrance it has, it’s quite detrimental to skin, and is especially bad for sensitive skin. Plus, we’ve already talked about how essential oils can cause chemical burns if you don’t dilute them when applying them on the skin.

Turmeric

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Turmeric is another desi favourite which is not nearly as helpful as made out to be. Curcumin, the very ingredient in it which claims to provide antioxidant benefits, also makes skin sensitive to sun exposure and inflammation. What’s the point of staining your skin yellow if the pros don’t outweigh the cons?

Sandalwood

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If we are talking about haldi, how can we forget chandan? Another Indian favourite, this one is often recommended for acne for its “cooling” properties. But the fact remains, sandalwood contains fragrance which aggravates skin types like acne-prone skin, which is already sensitive!

Raw apple cider vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar might be good to drink (unless you suffer from acidity), but this acidic liquid is too harsh for skin. It can burn off skin tags and warts—that’s how strong it is. So, if you hear people recommending it to heal your pimples and clarify your skin, think twice before irritating your skin like that.

Granulated salt, sugar, or nut shells for facial scrub recipes

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Walnut shells, apricot shells, and large sugar granules are all common ingredients in natural scrub recipes. However, these are all really jagged at the edges and cause micro-tears in the skin when you use them on a place as delicate as your face. So, it’s not a good idea to use these, because if you have uneven skin, these can cause small abrasions which turn into post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation when exposed to sunlight. Not a good idea!

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